What Causes Upper-Right Abdomen Pain Worse After Meals?

Upper-right abdomen pain worse after meals can have various causes, just like most other symptoms. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.

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Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose upper-right abdomen pain worse after meals, we could:

Research the topic
Find a doctor with the time
Use a diagnostic computer system.

The process is the same, whichever method is used.

Step 1: List all Possible Causes

We begin by identifying the disease conditions which have "upper-right abdomen pain worse after meals" as a symptom. Here are three possibilities:

Sphincter Of Oddi Dysfunction
Gallbladder Disease
Stomach Ulcers

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

We then identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:

major upper-right pain after food

significant red blood in stools

severe meal-induced pain

severe right hypochondriac pain

recent onset vomiting

Over 6 years above 180 blood sugar

severe flatulence

abdominal pain reduced by eating

chronic abdominal pain

regular aspirin use

dull epigastric pain after meals

recent onset abdominal pain

... and more than 40 others

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of upper-right abdomen pain worse after meals:

Cause	Probability	Status
Stomach Ulcers	92%	Confirm
Sphincter Of Oddi Dysfunction	25%	Unlikely
Gallbladder Disease	1%	Ruled out

* This is a simple example to illustrate the process

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

If you indicate abdominal pain increased by eating, The Analyst™ will ask further questions including this one:

UPPER-RIGHT abdomen: Do you experience discomfort or pain behind the right rib cage that sometimes or always becomes worse after eating?

Possible responses:

→ No / I only have pain when I eat / don't know
→ Rarely / a few times a year
→ Yes, mild pain becomes moderate pain after eating
→ Yes, mild pain becomes severe pain
→ Yes, moderate pain becomes severe pain

Based on your response to this question, which may indicate meals worsen top-right abdomen pain, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as:

Gallbladder Disease

The gallbladder is located in the upper right abdomen, just beneath the liver. Meal-induced pain in this region suggests that gallstones may be causing a blockage in the bile duct. The gallbladder contracts rapidly but is unable to drain leading to pressure build-up and pain.

Gastric/Peptic/Duodenal Ulcers

Concerned or curious about your health? Try The Analyst™